Christopher Niedzielski is discovering dreams must be earned. He has just earned one of his own

Christopher Niedzielski is discovering dreams must be earned. He has just earned one of his own. Ten thousand athletes went to the National team tryouts in Ohio and only 30 were selected. Christopher was one of them.

Christopher Niedzielski is discovering dreams must be earned. He has just earned one of his own. Ten thousand athletes went to the National team tryouts in Ohio and only 30 were selected. Christopher was one of them.

When we were young, we all dreamed our own big dreams, whether it being a rock star, fireman, or an NFL player. For some, there is a point when this fantastical dream becomes a realistic goal. Over time, that goal grows into a passion, and it is that passion that changes a person. It is that passion that drives a person to the top, to achieve that goal, and to live out that dream. Christopher Niedzielski is on that path of passion and determination.

Christopher has just been selected to the USA National Football Team, along with 30 other young athletes who were selected out of all the young football players in America. The National Football team travels the world to play other countries; the USA vs. Canada match will occur in January.

Where do athletes come from? There are millions of individuals who play football in high school but only a few make it to college football, and fewer make it on to play pro football. NFL players come from all sorts of backgrounds, all walks of life, all ethnic groups—after all, when you are on the field, it does not matter if you are rich or poor, white or black. What matters is that you do your job better than anyone else could. However, one thing every pro player has in common is the passion to do their best and a love for the game.

It is passion that distinguishes a good athlete from an exceptional athlete. Talent is a key element of success, but it is not enough. To be the best requires passion for the sport, determination, and perseverance. To be successful at the age of 14, you must start early, perhaps at the age of 6 like Christopher did. It is his passion that gets him out in the backyard throwing the football while his friends are playing video games and engaging in the normal teenage activities. You can see Christopher’s determination when he watches the game; he does not second guess the coach or blame the referees. Instead, he is analyzing the movements and strategies of all the other players, thinking about what he would do if he were in their position.

The desire to excel drives people like Christopher. What sets him apart is that he does not strive to win, but to become the best player he can be. And his desire to push himself to be the best does not only apply to his athletic pursuits; Christopher is also on the honor roll at Toms River High School North, in Toms River, New Jersey. He plays football for the Toms River Mainers and has played in more than 10 all-star games. You will be able to see Christopher play at the All-American DIAMOND game in Myrtle Beach, S.C. on December 31, 2016.

Christopher is about to experience a moment that he will never forget. On January 17, 2017, Christopher will represent the U.S. National Team against Canada. When he puts on the Team USA jersey and hits the field for the first time in an international event, when he stands for the national anthem, and when he begins to play the game he loves, he will understand what he has spent those long, exhausting hours practicing for. He didn’t just get the chance to wear the Team USA jersey; he earned it.

Christopher, you have worked for this and deserve it. Our best wishes go out to you and TEAM USA – Represent us with pride!

Bio: Christopher “CJ” Niedzielski is currently attending Toms River North High School in New Jersey, where he plays defensive tackle and right tackle/tight end. He is 14 and wants to play college football at TCU, FSU, or the University of Miami. He has two very supportive parents: his mother Kimberly and father Krzysztof Niedzielski and his 8-year-old sister, Jayda, who helps keep him grounded.